Every year, OCEANetwork monitors any bills, initiatives, or rules that may negatively impact homeschool freedoms in Oregon. The need for vigilance is even greater during long legislative sessions, which happen every other year.
OCEANetwork previously sent out an alert about House Bill 3624, which you can read here. The bill passed in the House and is now scheduled for a hearing in the Senate. Once again, we are calling on homeschool families across Oregon to take action.
OCEANetwork Opposes HB 3624
HB 3624 requires Education Service Districts (ESDs) to provide a free standardized testing option for homeschool students. If passed, the ESDs would choose the test version, proctor, and testing environment (a local public school) for that option.
On the surface, this may appear to offer helpful support. However, HB 3624 threatens long-standing homeschool freedom in Oregon by:
- Normalizing more state involvement in home education.
- Positioning homeschoolers as dependent on the State.
- Laying a foundation for future regulation and control.
Although HB 3624 makes ESD-provided testing optional for now, it opens the door for it to become mandatory in the future. We’ve seen this happen before—what begins as optional can become required over time. In addition, the more direct influence the ESD has in private homeschooling, the more overreach they’ll attempt, whether intentionally or out of a lack of understanding of the homeschool laws.
Homeschool families must retain the right to choose the test version, proctor, and setting that are best for their children. The relatively small cost savings that would be realized under this bill isn’t worth jeopardizing those freedoms.
➡️ Call / Email Members of the Senate Committee on Education
HB 3624 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate on Monday, May 5, at 8:00 AM. Call or write each member of the Senate Committee on Education and politely request they vote NO, explaining in your own words why you oppose the bill.
- Chair: Senator Lew Frederick
- Vice-Chair: Senator Suzanne Weber
- Member: Senator Sara Gelser Blouin
- Member: Senator Noah Robinson
- Member: Senator Janeen Sollman
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Thank you for helping OCEANetwork defend the rights of homeschooling families in Oregon.
Rodger Williams
OCEANetwork Freedom Watch Team
If you have questions about this alert, please contact OCEANetwork here so we can forward it on to our Freedom Watch Team.
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